Amelia Christnot is an Oglala Lakota, Kanien'kehá:ka Haudenosaunee and Metís Navy brat who settled in the wilds of Northern Maine. A member of the Indigenous Journalists Association, she considers herself another proud Maineiac.
A child’s development is measured by reaching certain milestones. Things like holding their head up, sitting up unassisted, rolling over, crawling, talking, and walking are all tracked and evaluated by parents and pediatricians to see if a child is on track or experiencing developmental delays. But children aren’t machines. No two are alike, so milestones […] More
Teenagers are stuck between childhood and adulthood. They want to exert their independence, but still want or need adults to bail them out. The unfortunate consequence of that dichotomy—and the hormones of puberty—is often a willful know-it-all that goes out of their way to not do what they’re told. And if it’s difficult for their […] More
Dealing with a sick child is exhausting. But dealing with a sick spouse right after dealing with a sick child is another level of tiring. A wife who felt run ragged by her toddler and husband turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit for feedback. Magical-Princess asked: “AITA for blowing up at my […] More
I was blessed to have seven Grandmothers through death, adoption, divorce, remarriage, and Indigenous kinship traditions. There was Gram Amelia, Gramma Sally, Grandma Mavis, Mamere Agnes, Grammie Fox, Grandmother Laura, and Auntie Maryanne. I—a Gen Xer—had friends who called their grandmothers nana, mimi, nonna, memaw, or grandmama. But now that we’re the ones becoming grandmothers, […] More
Divorce can be a very unpleasant experience. Amicable divorces exist, but less-than-friendly ones are more common. When children are involved, things can become competitive. One or both parents may want the upper hand with their children. Kids caught in the middle often grow up knowing their parents’ love comes with conditions. A daughter turned to […] More
Ah, baby names… They’re almost as fraught with drama as weddings. Family members demanding to be a namesake. Everyone—including complete strangers—having an opinion they aren’t afraid to share. And some parents deciding to take creativity to a whole new level. A friend dealing with baby name fallout turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) […] More
The death of a parent is hard for anyone at any age. But it seems particularly tragic when the death is unexpected, and the children aren’t adults yet. The only consolation the children might get is having a chance to say goodbye to their parent and spend time with supportive, loving family and friends. A […] More
Estrangement refers to a person “no longer being on friendly terms or part of a social or familial group.” Either or both parties can be the ones to walk away from the relationship. Reconnecting after an estrangement is rarely simple. The relationship has forever been altered by the split. And both parties have changed in […] More
What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine is the recipe for relationship success, right? Not really. Yes, sharing some things is critical to a healthy relationship, but so is some autonomy. Boundaries are healthy in all relationships, but what if your partner ignores them? A Redditor in a decade long relationship turned to […] More
Blood is thicker than water and family first are great mottos for healthy, happy family dynamics. But when it’s used to manipulate or take advantage of people, it’s time for boundaries to be established. A daughter whose mother doesn’t like her boundaries about overnight guests turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit for […] More
Funerals are big business in the United States. The average amount paid for a coffin in the United States is between $2,000 and $5,000, but the price varies widely. Caskets cost as little as $500 for a very basic model, or as much as $10,000 or more for a customized or a casket made of […] More
Childbirth isn’t like it’s usually depicted on TV shows or movies. At the end, mom isn’t perfectly coifed with model perfect makeup. Giving birth is messy, painful, and exhausting. So who wants to host a family gathering after expelling a 5-10 pound human from their body? At one time, all childbirths took place in the […] More
